A Gold Star Lapel Button in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

is an official decoration authorized by an Act of Congress that is issued to the direct next of kin family members of service members who died in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

and subsequent armed hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States has been engaged. The Gold Star Lapel Button was established by Act of Congress, Public Law 80-306, in August 1947.

Award criteria

The issuance of the Gold Star Lapel Button for the next of kin consists the following time periods: :(1) World War I, April 6, 1917, to March 3, 1921; :(2) World War II, September 8, 1939, to July 25, 1947; :(3) United Nations action in Korea, June 27, 1950, to July 27, 1954; :(4) After June 30, 1958 ::(a) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; ::(b) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; ::(c) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party against an opposing armed force. The Department of Defense recognizes the following operations subsequent to June 30, 1958: * Lebanon, July 1, 1958, to November 1, 1958 * Republic of Vietnam, July 1, 1958, to March 28, 1973 * Quemoy and Matsu Islands, August 23, 1958, to June 1, 1963 * Taiwan Straits, August 23, 1958, to January 1, 1959 * U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations in the Congo, July 14, 1960, to September 1, 1962 * U.S. operations of assistance to the Republic of Laos, April 19, 1961, to October 7, 1962 * Berlin, August 14, 1961, to June 1, 1963 * Cuba, October 24, 1962, to June 1, 1963 * Congo, November 23, 1964, to November 27, 1964 * Dominican Republic, April 28, 1965, to September 21, 1966 * Korea, October 1, 1966, to June 30, 1974 * Cambodia, March 29, 1973, to August 15, 1973 * Thailand, March 29, 1973, to August 15, 1973 * Cambodia, April 11, 1975, to April 13, 1975 * Vietnam, * Mayaguez Operation, May 15, 1975 * Lebanon, June 1983 to * Grenadan Operation, October 23, 1983, to November 21, 1983 *

Operation Eldorado Canyon The 1986 United States bombing of Libya, code-named Operation El Dorado Canyon, consisted of air strikes by the United States against Libya on Tuesday 15 April 1986. The attack was carried out by the U.S. Air Force (USAF), U.S. Navy and U.S. Mar ...

, April 2, 1986, to April 17, 1986 * Panama, December 20, 1989, to January 31, 1990 * Desert Shield/Desert Storm, August 2, 1990, to November 30, 1995 * Haiti, September 16, 1994, to March 31, 1995 * Somalia, December 5, 1992, to March 31, 1995 * Operations in the Persian Gulf, November 30, 1995, to (date to be determined) * Operations in and around the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, December 20, 1996, to June 20, 1998, and any subsequent operations as may be announced by the Secretary of Defense. One Gold Star Lapel Button will be furnished, without cost, to the

widow A widow (female) or widower (male) is a person whose spouse has died. Terminology The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed ''widowhood''. An archaic term for a widow is "relict," literally "someone left over". This word can so ...

widower A widow (female) or widower (male) is a person whose spouse has died. Terminology The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed ''widowhood''. An archaic term for a widow is "relict," literally "someone left over". This word can s ...

and to each of the parents (mother, father,

stepmother A stepmother, stepmum or stepmom is a non-biological female parent married to one's preexisting parent. A stepmother-in-law is a stepmother of one's spouse. Children from her spouse's previous unions are known as her stepchildren. Culture Step ...

stepfather A stepfather or stepdad is a non-biological male parent married to one's preexisting parent. A stepfather-in-law is a stepfather of one's spouse. Children from his spouse's previous unions are known as his stepchildren. Culture Though less comm ...

, mother through adoption, father through adoption and foster parents), children (step children and children through adoption), brothers, sisters, half brothers, and half sisters.

Appearance

The Gold Star Lapel Button consists of a gold star on a purple circular background, bordered in gold and surrounded by gold laurel leaves. On the reverse is the inscription "United States of America, Act of Congress, August 1966" with space for engraving the initials of the recipient.

References

{{reflist Military awards and decorations of the United States United States military badges Service lapel buttons

Award criteria

Appearance

See also

References